Interplay of Genetic Risk Factors (CHRNA5-CHRNA3-CHRNB4) and Cessation Treatments in Smoking Cessation Success

When smokers were separated by their nicotinic receptor gene variants, those with the low-risk genotype responded equally well to pharmacological treatments, including both nicotine replacement and bupropion, and nonpharmacological therapies. Those with the high-risk genotype, as identified by DNA sequencing, responded only to pharmacological treatments. Clinicians advising patients on smoking cessation can suspect genetic risk on the basis of early onset of heavy smoking and direct those smokers specifically to pharmacological treatments.